A recent study has revealed that Denver has been rated as the 4th fittest city in the United States. A close-up of colorful tulips in front of the Capitol
The ACSM American Fitness Index ranks Denver as the fourth-fittest city in the United States, and this is no surprise given the enthusiasm for outdoor activity in the area. People living in the city can be seen running around Sloan’s Lake, cycling the Cherry Creek Trail, and even scaling fourteeners.
A research study was conducted to rank the top 100 cities in America in terms of physical fitness. Results showed that 82% of residents in the city of Denver had been active in the last month. Additionally, more than half of the population met the criteria for aerobic activity, and around 70% slept longer than 7 hours each day.
The research found that almost 90% of Denverites can reach a park within 10 minutes on foot, yet the city’s location rating did not match its health rating. It was ranked No. 26 in the nation, dragged down by the bad air quality and lack of a requirement for sports.
The state of Colorado has earned its well-deserved reputation as being a healthy state. It is often listed as one of the top five healthiest or fittest states. People living in the state are always finding new ways to stay active, which is made easy by the diverse seasons and pleasant weather. No matter what activity they prefer, there is always an opportunity to stay active throughout the year.
Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the research suggested that a considerable amount of the country’s main cities were not desirable.
In the 2021 American Fitness Index, it was found that almost one-third of people in the 100 largest U.S. cities are overweight, 14% smoke, and 25% said they had not exercised in the past month. This data was collected before the pandemic occurred. Additionally, initial studies have indicated that during 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic may have led to a decrease in exercise and healthy eating, as well as an increase in obesity rates and stress.
Denver’s population health ratings have been placed second-best in the nation, due to their lower-than-average rates of obesity and strokes.
The 10 cities that are the most fit in the US, according to research, are Arlington, Virginia; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Seattle, Washington; Denver, Colorado; Madison, Wisconsin; Washington, DC; St. Paul, Minnesota; Irvine, California; Portland, Oregon; and Atlanta, Georgia. Aurora and Colorado Springs, 38th and 51st respectively, both have high numbers of citizens who get seven or more hours of sleep per night.